He is strong. He understands voters’ problems. He knows how the economy ticks, and how to make it tick faster. He would fight for Britain’s interests and stand firm in a crisis. He keeps his promises. He is the ideal candidate for Prime Minister.

Sadly for Ed Miliband, few voters think he fits the bill. Almost four years into his leadership of the Labour Party, and with just 10 months to go until next year’s election, Miliband has yet to persuade the electorate that he has the personal qualities needed to lead Britain. As a result, Labour is only narrowly ahead of the Conservatives, instead of enjoying the double-digit lead that oppositions generally need at this stage in the political cycle if they are to return to power.

YOU'VE HIT THE LIMIT

You have now reached your limit of 3 free articles in the last 30 days. But don't worry! You can get another 7 articles absolutely free, simply by entering your email address in the box below.

When you register we'll also send you a free e-book—Writing with punch—which includes some of the finest writing from our archive of 22 years. And we'll also send you a weekly newsletter with the best new ideas in politics and philosophy of culture, which you can of course unsubscribe from at any time

Email

Prospect takes your privacy seriously. We promise never to rent or sell your e-mail address to any third party.
You can unsubscribe from the Prospect e-mail newsletter at any time.

Comments

Amanda Yates

martin mcdonagh

June 20, 2014 at 12:41

Ed is a disappointment because he comes across as Blair mark 2- managerial and policy wonk speak-full of generalities and generic terminology. -unlike the straight talking Farage.
Today's leaders are fearful, too careful, don't have a clear vision of what they want to do and cannot speak plain English . They need to study the art of story telling more than the art of bureaucratic communication. Concrete language, clear examples of general principles, humour and enthusiasm. We need noble causes not more management.

Stacey Adams

June 20, 2014 at 20:53

For some voters, the initial 'how this brother won the leadership' battle is difficult to forget. He was clearly good at strategy. He got the right votes to back him. But given his means, his ends had to be pretty impressive and they haven't been.In the leadership role he has failed to communicate a clear vision and choice to the broad range of people who need to vote for him in order that he achieves power. To the middle ground voter he gives the impression of 'old Labour' and 'I would rather be out of power and pure to my values' than be in power and have to compromise and manage through political and international events that muddy the purists world view. His supporters won't feel that's fair but I think it's close enough to accurate.It is such a shame as the Lib Dems no longer pose an electoral threat and anyone who is close to the current Conservative government knows that they are an open goal. Voters who believe they deserve a competent ruling class need a better set of choices in 2015.

Peter Day

June 22, 2014 at 11:54

Does it not strike anyone that the perception of Ed Milliband is created by the media - the Tory-controlled media. They didn't manage to make the 'Red Ed' slur stick, or the charge that his father was a traitor - but that doesn't mean they won't repeatedly say he isn't any good until their readers believe it. And they still call it democracy.

Mark Brady

June 22, 2014 at 18:02

Ed Miliband needs to convince voters that he and his party regard as paramount the interests of all current and future working people, and everybody who depends upon them - i.e the whole British population, rather than any particular segment of it. Three clear statements from Ed would convince me of that:Firstly, that a Labour government would take no notice of the SNP's patently self-serving referendum on Scottish independence - or at least not until a substantial majority of Westminster MPs were SNP rather than Labour.Secondly, that a Labour government would not hold a referendum on UK membership of the European Union. Full stop, end of discussion. Some daft OAPs might then switch their vote from Labour to UKIP or Conservative, but then they don't care whether they spend the rest of their lives unemployed because they already are.Thirdly, that Mr and Mrs Balls may have whatever jobs they like in a future Labour Government - with the exception of anything in the Treasury and/or Education. That in particular will for many people be the key factor in determining whether they consider Ed Miliband a potential Prime Minister - if he can't keep Ed Balls out of the Treasury then the answer's 'No'.

blightedland

June 23, 2014 at 12:57

While it's true that news media's management does the utmost to create the impressions which most suit their (not so) various interests, the fact remains that Ed Miliband can produce justified revulsion in his audiences even without great help from a hostile and scheming corporate-media class. E.g.: he brought in supposed wunder-(former)-kind, David Axelrod to advise him. The corporate media elites did not force him--even indirectly--to take that stupid step. He did it on his own. We have seen the first fruits of that measure in the vile proposal concerning youth benefits ( The Guardian newspaper: 19/06/2014 "Labour to cut youth benefits and focus on path to work" ). That measure implicitly accepts much of the worst thinking from Duncan Smith, Osborne, Cameron and D. Alexander. As an effective defender against the ravages wreaked upon them by these latter four, Miliband is worse than useless to Britain's neediest and most vulnerable. That is a shame and a disgrace--one of many.

Alyson

June 25, 2014 at 17:41

Ed Milliband is a thoroughly decent man with the stage presence of a plasticine puppet. When he speaks conversationally he is intelligent, interesting and usually right in what he says. When he makes a speech he follows Margaret Thatcher's dictum of repeat, repeat and repeat again, but so slowly that someone with an IQ of 60 would understand, but everyone else has switched off, fallen asleep or gone to make a cup of tea.
A smile, a friendly touch of empathy, and a more clearly defined moral high ground could save the NHS, protect the weak, the elderly and the unemployed, and develop community-based work skills, research in Britain's scientific community, and a welcoming respect, for hard-working immigrants, acknowledging Britain's multi-cultural Christian tolerance, and perhaps more importantly, Britain's gender equality in society, which is what makes the UK such a friendly place for people from all different cultures and communities.
He doesn't need to be defensive, nor to attack the selfishness and greed which the current government supports, if he just would show us what the positive values of Labour in power would actually be....

geoff hill

November 10, 2015 at 22:58

Ed is a shallow opportunist flake with superficial tactics - for his own advancement - but without strategy for the country.E.g. When Vince Cable was "unmasked" as hostile to Rupert Murdoch - and why not? - our Ed tabled a motion of censure against Cable for "embarrassing Her Majesty"s Government".Was that really the crucial issue?????

Leave a comment

Prospect's free newsletter

The big ideas that are shaping our world—straight to your inbox. PLUS a free e-book and 7 articles of your choosing on the Prospect website.

Prospect takes your privacy seriously. We promise never to rent or sell your e-mail address to any third party.

This Month's Magazine

What are the big ideas that will shape our world in 2018? From sex to politics, our future issue looks ahead to how our lives will change. Plus: Christmas dinners, Orwell, and the Biblical origins of harassment.

Prospect was originally founded by Editor David Goodhart and Publisher Derek Coombs, as a home for intelligent debate. The magazine is owned and supported by the Resolution Group, as part of its not-for-profit, public interest activities. The aim is to tackle the big challenges confronting society, through rigorous thinking and fine writing.

Register today and access any 7 articles on the Prospect’swebsite for FREE in the next 30 days.. PLUS find out about the big ideas that will shape our world—with Prospect’s FREE newsletter sent to your inbox. We'll even send you our e-book—Writing with punch—with some of the finest writing from the Prospect archive, at no extra cost!

Prospect subscribers have full access to all the great content on our website, including our entire archive.

If you do not know your login details, simply close this pop-up and click 'Login' on the black bar at the top of the screen, then click 'Forgotten password?', enter your email address and press 'Submit'. Your password will then be emailed to you.

Thank you for your support of Prospect and we hope that you enjoy everything the site has to offer.

This site uses cookies to improve the user experience. By using this site, you agree that we can set and use these cookies. For more details on the cookies we use and how to manage them, see our Privacy and Cookie Policy.